When you’re overcome by the spirit of jazz, things can get crazy

New York City is packed with amazing culture and inspiring art, but sometimes it’s difficult to break the Morningside-bubble and experience them first-hand. “This Week in the Arts” is a weekly guide to interesting and notable lectures, events, and performances for the literary/musically/theatrically-inclined on campus.

Tuesday, February 9

  • Better Git It in Your Soul: An Interpretive Biography of Charles Mingus – Book Talk and Jazz Performance by the Mingus Trio, 7:00 PM, Buell Hall – Author Krin Gabbard will discuss his biographical examination of Charles Mingus, touching upon the musician’s life, musical innovation, and influence. Book talk will be accompanied by a performance of Mingus’ work. “This talk and performance will be of interest to anyone who cares about jazz, African American history, and the artist’s life.” (Event is free, but RSVP to ym@columbia.edu for the event)

Wednesday, February 10

  • Mid-Day Music featuring Nansong Huang, 12:00 PM, Garden Room at the Faculty House – Columbia University and Juilliard School pianist Nansong Huang will be performing Brahms Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5 and Debussy Images, Book 1 as part of the Mid-Day Music recital series.

Thursday, February 11

  • Black Light: Tom Lloyd, Lorraine O’Grady & the Effect of Art Historical Disappearance, 6:00 PM, Event Oval in the Diana Center – Art historian Krista Thompson examines the work of Tom Lloyd, “a Black artist among the first wave working with light and electronic technologies in the 1960s,” drawing from Lorraine O’Grady’s performance art as she “experiments with more expansive definitions of art and new methodologies of writing art history.”
  • Embodied Cognition: Music and Movement, 6:00 PM, The Heyman Center in the Common Room – A workshop that explores “the relationship between music and embodiment,” including the musician-instrument relationship and elements of teaching and learning music. A panel discussion and time for responses will follow the presentation.

Friday, February 12

  • Bold//Brilliant//Beats, doors open at 7:45 PM, Event Oval in the Diana Center – Barnard Student Life hosts a “groundbreaking concert of music celebrating musicians of non-dominant identities.” (Get free tickets with BC/CUID at boldbrilliantbeats.eventbrite.com)
  • “The Glass Piano”, 8:00 PM, Shapiro Hall – “The Glass Piano is a new play by Alix Sobler, directed by Matt Trucano. It was inspired by the true story of Princess Alexandra of Bavaria who believed she swallowed a full sized, grand piano made of glass.” (Reserve free tickets here)

Saturday, February 13

  • Albert Murray–An American Original: Novelist, Essayist, Thinker, 9:00 AM (full day event), Buell Hall – A symposium intended to elaborate on Murray’s contribution to American “thought and letter.” Jazz performances will occur following the symposium. (Event is free, but RSVP to ym@columbia.edu for the event)
  • Zabardast, doors open at 7:00 PM, Roone Arledge Auditorium – “Like music? Like Bollywood? Like food? And most of all, can you not pronounce “Zabardast”? Well if you answered yes to any of these questions come to CU SUR’s annual showcase! Bollywood fusion A Cappella groups from all over the tri-state area will be there, including The MIT Ohms, Yale Sur et Veritaal, Harvard Mirch, BU Suno and CU Raaga. Guest performance by Bhangra as well! It will be a great show and yes Indian food will be provided.”
  • “The Glass Piano”, 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM, Schapiro Theatre

Jazz Hands by SamsonX/Wikimedia Commons